@COOP: The old woman with the walker reminds me of a resident at a retirement community I used to work at. She was always falling and braking bones but she always bounced back (a rarity). She had spunk, especially considering how much her body was thrashed.

Has anyone here used a LensBaby and if so can you tell me if they are actually usefull? Is there anything technical about them or do you just move them around until you get the desired look you're after? Can you use them with a zoom lens, would you want to? Would you recommend purchasing one? If you have any samples of photos taken with the LB that would be great.

Has anyone here used a LensBaby and if so can you tell me if they are actually usefull? Is there anything technical about them or do you just move them around until you get the desired look you're after? Can you use them with a zoom lens, would you want to? Would you recommend purchasing one? If you have any samples of photos taken with the LB that would be great.

I've got an original Lensbaby and a version 3, which is now known as the Control Freak. Mainly you just move them around until you get the look you want. The only thing technical is you can pop in different aperture rings. They are a complete lens, so you can't use them with anything else, unless you're doing some bizarre adapter strategy.

If you want images with the Lensbaby look, then I would recommend getting one. I'd lean towards the composer, because you can get different lens types for it.

Also, I have a question for you wise photo people concerning something that's been bugging me for a while.

Basically for the past little while there's been some tiny hairs and a few spots in my photos. As an example here's one of the shots where it particularly stands out: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4532168388_4763d76474_o.jpg It's original size, but it's right at the top. You'll be able to see the spots and the hair.

After cleaning my lens countless times and even using other lenses, I've concluded that this is originating from within the camera. My guess is the mirror as I've seen what look like spots of dissolved liquid (I don't even know how). But even then it could be somewhere else in the camera. The big question is...what are my options on cleaning it? I know there's the brush that squeezes air, but is there a liquid cleanser I should be aware of? Or are there other areas to clean? Or am I just fucked? As for my camera, I own a Nikon D50.

@ oldhat - It sounds like you have some dust on your image sensor or I should say the filter that covers it. You can buy kits for cleaning the sensor but there seems to be a lot of opinions on whether this is something you should do yourself or bring to a professional. I have been considering doing this myself as I do have a couple spots on my sensor however I have a shaky hands so I think I will probably take it to a professional. There seems to be a wide variety of kits for doing it yourself and a wide variety of prices. If you are a DIY person give it a go but educate yourself first.

PS - Anything on your mirror will have no affect on your photographs. Your camera is an SLR (single lens reflex) which means when you press the shutter button, the mirror swings up out of the way so that the light from the lens strikes your film.

PSS - You will also have to find out a stable way to keep the shutter of you camera open while you clean the sensor. Perhaps just setting it on MANUAL and selecting TIME for your shutter speed will do it.

@oldhat- Hold the the camera face down, get a blub and try to blow it out. It should work for the hairs at least. If that doesn't remove the, there is a kit you can buy for it that should come with a variety of sponges to fit most sensors. Most camera shops, if they're worth a damn, will be able to clean it for free since it's nothing more than two wipes.

@oldhat the Giottos Rocket air blowers work quite well blowing stuff off the sensor. Not sure if the Nikon has a cleaning setting, but my Pentax has one in the menus that locks the mirror up so you can clean the sensor.